Best Life Index › States › New Mexico › Cities › Rio Rancho

New Mexico city profile

What Is It Like to Live in Rio Rancho?

What it costs to live in Rio Rancho, and how it compares with other New Mexico cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

58

5th best value in New Mexico

How much you get for what you pay, versus other New Mexico cities.

Overall livability

60

3rd overall in New Mexico

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

Rio Rancho is home to about 102,403 people. A typical home runs $211,300 and a household earns around $70,600, a price-to-income ratio of 3.0. Among New Mexico's largest cities, it ranks 5th for value and 3rd overall.

Rio Rancho at a glance

Median home price

$211,300

8th in NM of 14

Median rent

$1,181/mo

Median household income

$70,600

Home price to income

3.0x

Unemployment

6.7%

10th in NM of 14

School rating

6/10

2nd in NM of 14

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in NM of 14

Walk score

11/100

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‹ See all top New Mexico cities ranked  ยท  New Mexico state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within New Mexico only. Updated 2026.